Howzat for a finish

Property professionals from Southampton and Portsmouth went into bat against each other for their annual crunch cricket match – and it was a nail-biting finish.  

Portsmouth Property Association (PPA), captained by Rob Marchant, led with a respectable 155 runs for eight wickets in the 20-20 overs clash.  

Southampton Property Association (SPA), captained by Hughes Ellard’s Russell Mogridge, replied by winning by a whisker with just two balls remaining.  

It was the third time in four years that the SPA has won the event, which was sponsored by Southampton-based accountancy BDO and held at Fareham and Crofton Cricket Club in Fareham.  

Russell said: “As ever between the SPA and PPA, there was some good-natured rivalry going on during what is a sporting highlight of the commercial property sector in the Solent corridor.  

“Thankfully we had the last laugh, wresting the trophy from last year’s winners.”  

Rob, from regional land and property auctioneers Clive Emson, said: “It’s rare to see Southampton pull one over Portsmouth, and I wonder if some ringers were parachuted in to help the opposition in the face of our obvious cricket prowess.”  

The SPA and PPA have 400 and 130 members respectively, ranging from property agents and lawyers to developers and accountants.